Heywood's Bank
Encyclopedia
Heywood's Bank was a private banking firm established and run in Manchester
by members of the Heywood family of Pendleton between 1788 and 1874.
The company was named ‘Benjamin Heywood Sons & Co’. Benjamin had been a partner in Heywood's Bank, Liverpool which he had established in 1773 with his brother Arthur. The brothers had attempted in 1784 to open a branch of their bank at Manchester but the attempt failed and it was decided that a separate firm would have to be formed. They dissolved their partnership and Benjamin moved to Manchester with his sons, taking with him over £10,000 in bills of exchange, while Arthur remained in control of the Liverpool bank renaming it 'Arthur Heywood, Sons & Co'.
On Benjamin’s death in 1795, the Manchester firm became known as ‘Heywood Brothers & Co’. In 1814, Nathaniel’s eldest son Benjamin Heywood joined the firm. Nathaniel died in 1815. Two more of Nathaniel’s sons then joined the firm; Thomas in 1818 and Richard in 1820.
Benjamin Arthur Heywood, the last of the original founders, died in 1828 and in 1829 both Thomas and Richard retired from banking, leaving their brother Benjamin
as the sole partner. He renamed the Bank, ‘Benjamin Heywood & Co’.
Benjamin was created the First Baronet of Claremont in 1838 and he re-titled the bank ‘Sir Benjamin Heywood Bart. & Co’. He later brought his four sons into the firm when they came of age; Oliver
, Arthur, Edward and Charles . Benjamin retired in 1860, leaving his sons to run the firm, which they renamed ‘Heywood Brothers & Co’.
in 1788. In 1795 they moved to St Ann’s Street. There was a short-lived attempt to open a branch at Stockport
about 1820.
In 1848, the Heywood family had a new building built at 25 St Ann's Street. It was designed by John Edgar Gregan, "a three-storey stone clad building in the Italian style, with a deeply rusticated ground floor and two upper floors in ashlar. The ground floor windows, large to light the banking hall, have arched openings, inside which the arched windows are flanked by classical columns. Next to it is a smaller building in brick with stone detailing which was the home of the bank manager" The building is still in use today as a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland
, which in 1930 was acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland
.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
by members of the Heywood family of Pendleton between 1788 and 1874.
Family and banking history
The bank was founded in Manchester by Benjamin Heywood and his two sons, Benjamin Arthur and Nathaniel Heywood with Barclay, Bevan, Tritton & Co, bankers of City of London, as London agents. They began trading in May 1788The company was named ‘Benjamin Heywood Sons & Co’. Benjamin had been a partner in Heywood's Bank, Liverpool which he had established in 1773 with his brother Arthur. The brothers had attempted in 1784 to open a branch of their bank at Manchester but the attempt failed and it was decided that a separate firm would have to be formed. They dissolved their partnership and Benjamin moved to Manchester with his sons, taking with him over £10,000 in bills of exchange, while Arthur remained in control of the Liverpool bank renaming it 'Arthur Heywood, Sons & Co'.
On Benjamin’s death in 1795, the Manchester firm became known as ‘Heywood Brothers & Co’. In 1814, Nathaniel’s eldest son Benjamin Heywood joined the firm. Nathaniel died in 1815. Two more of Nathaniel’s sons then joined the firm; Thomas in 1818 and Richard in 1820.
Benjamin Arthur Heywood, the last of the original founders, died in 1828 and in 1829 both Thomas and Richard retired from banking, leaving their brother Benjamin
Benjamin Heywood
Sir Benjamin Heywood, 1st Baronet FRS was an English banker and philanthropist.Born in St Ann's Square, Manchester, grandson of Thomas Percival, son of Nathaniel Heywood and Ann Percival, and brother to Thomas Heywood and James Heywood...
as the sole partner. He renamed the Bank, ‘Benjamin Heywood & Co’.
Benjamin was created the First Baronet of Claremont in 1838 and he re-titled the bank ‘Sir Benjamin Heywood Bart. & Co’. He later brought his four sons into the firm when they came of age; Oliver
Oliver Heywood
Oliver Heywood was an English banker and philanthropist.Born in Manchester, the son of Benjamin Heywood, and educated at Eton College, Heywood joined the family business, Heywood's Bank in the 1840s....
, Arthur, Edward and Charles . Benjamin retired in 1860, leaving his sons to run the firm, which they renamed ‘Heywood Brothers & Co’.
Locations
The bank was opened in Exchange Street, ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1788. In 1795 they moved to St Ann’s Street. There was a short-lived attempt to open a branch at Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
about 1820.
In 1848, the Heywood family had a new building built at 25 St Ann's Street. It was designed by John Edgar Gregan, "a three-storey stone clad building in the Italian style, with a deeply rusticated ground floor and two upper floors in ashlar. The ground floor windows, large to light the banking hall, have arched openings, inside which the arched windows are flanked by classical columns. Next to it is a smaller building in brick with stone detailing which was the home of the bank manager" The building is still in use today as a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland
Sale and Closure
In April 1874, Heywood’s Bank was acquired by the Manchester & Salford Bank for £240,000. In 1890, The Manchester & Salford Bank became Williams Deacon's BankWilliams Deacon's Bank
Williams Deacon's Bank is now part of the Royal Bank of Scotland. It was acquired in 1930, and had a large network of branches in the north-west of England...
, which in 1930 was acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is a British banking and insurance holding company in which the UK Government holds an 84% stake. This stake is held and managed through UK Financial Investments Limited, whose voting rights are limited to 75% in order for the bank to retain its listing on the...
.